Improvement in electro-magnetic train-signals



| .D. L.. SALO MONS.

ELECTED-MAGNETIC TRAIN-SIGNALS.

No.18Z,O38. Patented Sept. 12, 1876.

.bl F K G l I; g

INVENTOR www 5 ITEnsrM-Es PATENT Orr-Ion.

DAVID LIONEL SALOMON S, OF BROIOM HILL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, ENGLAND.

IMPRCVEM ENT lNELECTRQ-MAGNETIC TRAIN-SIGNALS.

Specificatidh forming part of Letters PatentNo. 182,038, dated September 12, 1876; application filed December 4, 1875.

' To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, Sir DAVID LIoNELSAL- oMoNs, baronet, of Broom Hill, Tunbridge Wells, in the countyof Kent, England, have invented an improved electric communication between railway trains in. transit, or otherwise, and signals, stations or termini, and-in the apparatus employed therefor, of which the following is a specification: The invent-ionis designed for the purpose of enabling railway-trains to communicate one with another, whether travelingor stationary, on the same track, by means of suitable electro-magnetic arrangements actuating signal-bells and indicators, whichlwill Warn 2. train in the rear or advance of the one signaling of itsposition or proximity thereto.

The'improvements relate to an arrangement of apparatus forming electric communication between the trains and the: signals, stations, or other places on the line of route, the novelty of which consists in providingthepermanentiway with a third or electric rail, laid in sections or blocks, each section or block at its commencement and termination overlapping,

so as to run in parallel lines, and ina position which will admit of metallic signal wheels connected with the engine and train, as hereinafterdescribed, to run thereupon in a manner which will allow a constant and perfect electric contactto be maintained between the trains andsuch electric or third rail. 'The signal-wheels are insulatedfrom each other,

and are provided with insulated electric condoctors. One communicates, forinstance, with i a battery, and the other with an electric bell.

One wire from each, viz., the battery and the bell, are taken to earth by simply being at-' 'tached to the'engine. These wheels will hereinafter be called battery signal-wheel and bell signal-wheel!" On reference to the drawings annexed it will be understood how the invention can be carried into practical effect, similar letters of 1 reference being marked on corresponding -vations, detail views of the battery signalwheel and bell signal-wheel, together with the line of electric rail and themanner of supportingand insulating the same. Fig. .4represents the position of the electric wheels when running on the-single. rail. 1 Fig. 5 rep: resents a perspective diagram, showing how the electric circuit is established. between the apparatus on the train and theearth; and Fig. 6 represents another modification and arrangement of the electric wheels.

In these figures, a a is the permanent way, supplied withthe third or middle rail b b, supported on chairs 0 a, secured to the sleepers c. 'This third rail b b is insulated il-by means of ebonite or other suitable non-conducting material d, placed between its surfaces and their contact with the supporting-chairs c c, the adjustment and true position of such rail being maintained by means of the wooden wedges c c, the connection between each length of rail and the next being made by fish-plates.

f, as seen in Fig. 6, or by other equivalent and suitable means. The length of the rail b b islaid in sections or blocks, (see Fig. 1,) every block overlapping the other. For example, instead of simply cutting, and so disconnecting the rail where one block or section terminates, a considerable length of the next, before contin uing the same line, though disconnected, is caused to bend, and then run parallel therewith. For instance,b is the continuous length or front signal-rail, and b the overlap or back signal-rail, and b is the point of disconnection between each section or block.

To the engines running on the line of route a two metal wheels, g 9 are attached (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4) by means of supportingarms h and bracket 2', the said wheels being kept in contact'with the rails 12 b by means of the spring k and its central pin 70 the elevation or depression of such wheels being accomplished by raising or lowering. the central pin k through the medium of the screw k and collar k v These wheels 9 g are insulated onefrom the other by the ebonite or other non-conducting disks 1 Z, and are situated on their central axis at a distance apart corresponding with the parallel distance of the rails b b Facing the direction in which-the train is going, on arriving at the terminationof one blockv and commencement of the next, the wheel 9 will run-on the front-signal-railb, and the wheel 9 will run on the back signal-rail b but at of a batteryand an electric bell. (See Fig. 5.)

One wire from the battery and one from the electric hell are taken to earth by being simply attached to the engine, the current passing through the same to the ordinary railway lines connected with the ground. The other wire, 9 of the battery is connected with the battery signal-wheel g, and is insulated from'the engine. The second wire, g, from the electric bell is also insulated from the engine, and connected with the bell signal-wheel g Now, suppose a train to be -in a block in a position between its two terminations, the battery signal-wheel y will be running on the front signal line b. The wire 9 connects this wheel with one pole of the battery, the other pole being connected by a wire with the earth in manner before mentioned, and as the battery-wheel'g is in connection with the insulated rail 1), no current can pass, as the circuit is broken; therefore, it will be seen that before signaling can be efiected it will be necessary to form circuit by putting the insulated rail to. earth. This can be accomplished in several ways. In the first place, suppose, for instance, another train enters the same block upon which thetrain before mentioned is travelin g, thecircui't is completed by means of the wire-passingto the bell signal-wheel of such train, as before mentioned. No sooner is this circuit complete than thecurrent of electricity rings the electric bells on both engines, and continues to do so so long as there is a train in theblock. Therefore, it will be necessary that the driver entering the block shall pull up-histrain until his signal-bell ceases ringing. Moreover, this train, which has beensignaled 'to stop, has control over all the block i-t has run over, because its'battery signalwheel remains on the line of this. block, so that if another train were to enter behind this one its bell would announce a trainin front, and so on all down the line.

--- The overlaps of the rail b should be'of considerable length, so' that control may always be maintained over the block just passed over,

notwithstanding the distance the train has run inpulling 'up. Bythis arrangement every front train has control over a train behind. ye

ing apparatus connected with the battery on the train. One coil inthis indicator is placed in the circuit of the battery signal-wheel g, and the othercoil in that of the bell signalfwheel 9 so that when the circuit is complete the needle deflects right or left, according to the negative or positive current passing .through the same.

' verse sectional area.

Thedefiection of. the needlewill be to one sidevor the other, according as a train is'in the block in front or 'enteri'ngthe block behind; but if both these events occur at the same time, then the needle will have a tremulous motion slightly to one sidejand then the other, accordingto the different qualities of the electric currents passing through the coils.

I The needle of the indicator, where, so acted upon, is readily understood, for ordinarily when the needle is at rest in its vertical position it indicates safe 5 but when at rest in this po-' sition by reason of a train in the-block in front, and one waiting to enter the block behind, the electric hell would be ringing; therefore no misunderstanding or confusion could arise as to the meaning of the same. f r The dial of the indicator could have marked upon it (see Fig..7.)at the bottom at'A sig nals, on the left. hand at B train behind, at theright side-atG train in front andat the pointwhere theneedle; stands when at D bell ringing train behind andinfront. The

magnetic needle could be balanced so as to keep itvertical when not acted upon as an ordinary detector. The bellrsi'gnal and indicator-signal may be employed separately or together, Thevloss or resistance toelectric influence in consequence of wet or dampness of the insulators would be small: and impel".-

ceptible as employed in this system, because of the short lengths of line and its large trans- The underneath. and sides of the line of electric rail'might, by preference, be dipped in'a'sphalt, (which is a nonconductor,) and could then partly lie in water without afl'ecting the system. i

Intercommunication' can. be established be-, tween personsin-authority at. stations and a train in motion, especially. near stations,.in the following manner: This may be effected by. simply placing at some desired distance upon the line a lever-armature,(shown in Fig. 8,) which is actuated by themagnet u in con,- nection by means of an insulator-wirewith. a battery at the station, the opposite pole of which goes to earth; thus when the electric magnet u is magnetized thearmaturemfbrmS contact with the signal-rail b,.and: sofonmcincuit with a passing train through the medium of the battery signal-wheel g, the, continuous action of which stops thetraimand the inter.- mittent action sendsmessages only.

It is not necessary further to elaborate the.

system herein specified,as it will readilybe understood by those conversant with. electric apparatus and their manifold arrangements 7 t t that many forms of signaling could be adopt- Fig. 5 represents the indicator and'signah ed through thevmedium of the electricsystem herein described thereforeI do not want. to

tric rails, constructed and arranged as described, and the ordinary track of a railway,

tric battery, an electric bell, or an electric index-dial, or both, of a lever-armature and its electric communications with a battery and suitable signal apparatus at a distant station,

substantially as described, for the purpose.

specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

November 19, 1874.

DAVID L. SALOMONS.

Witnesses:

H. B. MERTQR, JOHN GRATES. 

